Garden Tractor

There are several elements that go into organizing a garden tractor pull event. The premise behind a garden tractor pull event is how far any given tractor can pull a sled with a pre determined weight box. The winner is determined by distance pulled as opposed to speed completion of other racing events.

The first step in setting up a garden tractor pull event is obtaining a piece of flat land that is a minimum of 25 feet wide and 300 feet long. This space will be filled with dirt, soil or clay material to create the competition field. In addition to the competition field, there needs to be additional space around the perimeter of the field for truck and equipment parking. An ideal location will provide access to and from main roads and highways. Competitors should be provided with a separate parking location as should event spectators.

A key component to any garden tractor pull is determining how far a tractor has pulled the weight filled sled. Therefore, it is essential to any garden tractor pull event to maintain some sort of measurement system in place. The various ways to determine measurement is a system utilizing rope, tape measure and side bar markers or electronic measuring system.

The rope marks off distance intervals along the route by gauging distance from a tape measure and side bar markers. In sharp contrast, the electronic measurement system places a box inside the sled being pulled by the garden tractor. When the tractor comes to a stop, an electronic figure display at the judging table provides the distance measurement in digital numbers. Many garden tractor pull events elect to use the electronic measurement system for ease of use. The rope and tape measure system is a bit out dated and requires numerous hands to be completed.

An additional weight factor should be the requirement of all garden tractors to weigh on a scale before participating in the event. Likewise a weight measurement should be taken of the sled with the weight box. The two weight totals can be added together to determine the pulling weight of each tractor. In the event of a dispute, the tractor in question can be weighed after the pull as well.

In preparation of the event, the services of a weight transfer pulling sled and track equipment crews should be obtained. The pulling sled should be able to undergo the ability to bring a garden tractor to a stop when the weight distribution becomes too much to handle. Equipment required includes a large scale tractor that can pull the sled back to the starting line each time. Other equipment pieces will refill holes or other damage made by the tractors during each pull run.

The remaining elements of a garden tractor pull event are personnel. Services of a judge knowledgeable in the rules and regulations for a tractor pull should be obtained. Assistance in running the event on its specified day is highly recommended. Make sure to obtain all the necessary insurance liability to cover competitors, personnel and spectators in the event of an accident. Last but certainly not least, advertise the garden tractor pull to fill the spectator seats.